The Briefing • Massachusetts recorded 44 fire-related deaths in 30 fires in 2025, a decline from 50 in 2024, according to state data. FireRescue1 • A July fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River killed 10 people, the state’s deadliest blaze in decades. FireRescue1 • Most fatal fires in 2025 occurred in residential settings, with many lacking working smoke alarms. FireRescue1 • Smoking materials and oxygen are cited as leading contributing factors in multiple fatal blazes. CapeCod.com
FALL RIVER, MA — Massachusetts saw a drop in fire deaths in 2025, but a summer blaze at an assisted living facility in Fall River resulted in the highest loss of life from a single fire in the state in decades. FireRescue1
State fire officials reported that 44 people died in 30 fires in 2025, down from 50 fire deaths in 2024. The count excludes fatalities linked to motor vehicle collisions that led to fire. FireRescue1
In July, a fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River claimed 10 lives and injured more than 30 people, making it the deadliest incident in the state in over 40 years. Massachusetts Government
Most fatal fires in 2025 occurred in homes, including single-family and multi-family residences, with many lacking functioning smoke alarms at the time of ignition. FireRescue1
State fire officials noted unsafe use or disposal of smoking materials was a leading factor in fire deaths last year, and investigators have highlighted the increased risk when smoking materials interact with medical oxygen. CapeCod.com
Los Angeles County — One year after the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, after-action reviews cite staffing, coordination, alerting and water-supply failures that complicated evacuations and initial attack. FireRescue1
Key fixes underway: LAFD says during red-flag periods all staff will be immediately recalled and all available apparatus will be staffed; LAPD and LAFD urged to train in true Unified Command. FireRescue1
Alerting gap: Evacuation warnings in west Altadena were hours late; Los Angeles County launched an independent probe and is updating OEM/LASD staffing and policies. FireRescue1
Air & water constraints:High winds grounded aircraft the first night; LADWP ran short on supply/pressure near Malibu, deploying tanker support as the state sent 140 more. A state review of water failures followed. FireRescue1
Special risks: Two senior facilities mishandled evacuations; SCE faces suits over alleged ignition and opened a wildfire compensation program while planning undergrounding in burn-scar areas. FireRescue1
LOS ANGELES — Twelve months after the Palisades blaze tore through Malibu’s coast and the Eaton fire burned into Altadena’s foothills, agencies are publishing hard-look assessments that trace life-safety problems back to staffing shortfalls, fragmented command, late alerts and stressed water systems—and they’re pledging concrete fixes before the next red-flag day. FireRescue1
Firefighters battle winds and flames as multiple beachfront homes go up in flames along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu in the Palisades Fire on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
What went wrong
After-action reports show the Los Angeles Fire Department did not hold over prior shifts as the Palisades fire ignited—an economy move the department now disavows. Going forward, during extreme fire weather “all staff will be immediately recalled and all available apparatus staffed,” the report states. FireRescue1
The Los Angeles Police Department documented coordination and communications gaps with LAFD: delayed officer arrival, limited PPE for door-to-door evacuations, radio confusion during a frequency switch, and a tactical alert delayed by wind and poor reception. Recommendations include routine joint training and a true Unified Commandstructure for fast-moving wildfires inside the city. FireRescue1
Emergency alerting faltered in both fires—notably in west Altadena, where warnings went out about three hours lateas homes were already burning. A county-commissioned review flagged understaffed OEM and LASD roles and outdated, unclear evacuation policies. The county has begun updating protocols and launched an independent investigation specific to the Eaton timeline. FireRescue1
In the air, severe winds forced LAFD to ground aircraft the first night; aviation resumed at daybreak. On the ground, LADWP’s system couldn’t keep up near Malibu—running out of water overnight while a nearby reservoir sat offline for repairs—prompting a state review and surge support from ~160 mobile tankers (LADWP and state combined). Officials caution that retrofitting foothill systems for wildfire demand will be costly and complex. FireRescue1
Vulnerable populations & utilities
Two senior living facilities in Altadena/Pasadena failed to execute evacuation plans, with residents left behind and later rescued by deputies and firefighters. Operator changes and rebuild plans are underway, including a facility slated to reopen in 2027 after total loss. FireRescue1
Though ignition causes remain officially undetermined, residents have sued Southern California Edison over the Eaton fire; SCE stood up a Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program and sketched a plan to underground 153 circuit miles, largely in burn-scar corridors. FireRescue1
What’s changing before next season
Staffing posture: Red-flag staffing will surge automatically (immediate recall/fully staffed apparatus), with added pre-positioned strike teams in the valley and foothills. FireRescue1
Unified operations: LAPD–LAFD to expand joint exercises, align evacuation and traffic plans, and stabilize interoperable comms. FireRescue1
Public warnings: County is revising alert authorities, staffing and scripts, aiming to front-load evacuation warnings for at-risk neighborhoods. FireRescue1
Detection/overhaul: LAFD will monitor burn scars with thermal-imaging drones after smoldering from the smaller Lachman fire re-ignited into the Palisades incident. FireRescue1
Supply planning: LADWP and the state are evaluating mobile water, system pressure zones and reservoir availability during wildfires. FireRescue1
Bottom line: The reviews trade blame for blueprints. The next Santa Ana event will test whether staffing recalls, unified command, faster alerts and contingency water can keep pace with wind-driven fire in the WUI stretching from Malibu to Altadena. FireRescue1
New York City — FDNY reports a sharp rise in senior fire fatalities: 37 of 59 fire deaths (64%) so far this year involved people 65+, up from 32 of 73 at this point last year. FireRescue1
Six-week toll:13 elderly New Yorkers died in fires this winter, prompting urgent outreach to older residents and caregivers. FireRescue1
Leading risks flagged by FDNY: aging/unsafe electrical systems, space heater use, non-functioning smoke alarms, mobility limits, and living alone (later detection/escape). FireRescue1
NEW YORK — The Fire Department of New York is sounding the alarm over a surge in fire deaths among older adults, saying nearly two-thirds of this year’s fire fatalities have been New Yorkers age 65 and older—a steep increase compared with the same period last year. FDNY Chief Fire Marshal Dan Flynn called the trend “very, very concerning,” noting that older residents represent about 13% of the city’s population but account for 64% of fire deaths in 2025 to date. FireRescue1
An 80-year-old woman died after a fire erupted inside her apartment on 80th St. near 37th Ave. in Jackson Heights, Queens on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
Officials said 13 seniors died in just six weeks as winter heating and holiday hazards converged. Investigators highlighted recurrent factors in recent fatal fires: aging or overloaded wiring/extension cords, space heaters, burning candles, inoperable smoke detectors, and the challenges of limited mobility or living alone, which can delay detection and escape. Several cases this season were traced to electrical causes or candles, with victims ranging from their 70s to 90s. FireRescue1
FDNY said it is intensifying home safety outreach with messages tailored to older adults and caregivers—checking and replacing smoke alarms, avoiding extension-cord overuse, positioning space heaters safely, and planning two ways outwhere possible. The department urged families and neighbors to proactively check on seniors, especially during cold snaps and holidays. FireRescue1
Anne Arundel County, Md. — A new Community Risk Assessment & Deployment Analysis urges the Anne Arundel County Fire Department (AACoFD) to add staffing and phase out cross-staffing, warning of response and safety risks. FireRescue1
Below NFPA 1710 benchmarks: Most suppression units run 3-person crews (NFPA recommends 4); only 3 of 7 ladder trucks are consistently 4-person. FireRescue1
Cross-staffing strain: Single crews toggling between an engine and medic (or rescue) leave apparatus unavailable; firefighters report 10+ swaps per day, with PPE/tools moved between rigs. FireRescue1
Union stance: Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters calls current model a “ticking time bomb” and asks county leaders to end cross-staffing and hire to national standards. FireRescue1
Department view: AACoFD says it meets incident-level staffing by sending more units, but the system is “stretched” as calls grow (84,791 runs in the past year, mostly EMS). FireRescue1
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. — A county-commissioned analysis recommends adding firefighters and reworking deployment to reduce reliance on cross-staffing, a practice the report links to longer response times, reduced system capacity and increased risk as call volume climbs.
Dec. 19, 2025 Joe Addivinola, right, the president of the Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters, and Casey Cameron, left, the union third vice president, at their union office in Millersville.
The 2024 Community Risk Assessment & Deployment Analysis—conducted by Emergency Services Consulting International after 2023 labor negotiations—finds most AACoFD suppression companies operate with three firefighters, below NFPA 1710 guidance for four. While the department often meets incident staffing by sending more vehicles, that approach pulls units out of service and leaves fewer resources for simultaneous incidents, officials acknowledged. FireRescue1
Union leaders said the cross-staffing model—one crew covering multiple rigs—creates operational gaps. Crews report frequent gear swaps (sometimes 10 times daily) between a rescue and engine, adding seconds or minutes and inviting human error under stress. “Understaffing puts the community and firefighters at risk…we’re doing a lot with very little,” union president Joe Addivinola said, urging the county to hire to national standards and end cross-staffing over time. FireRescue1
AACoFD spokesperson Capt. Jenny Macallair said the report offers a data-driven roadmap to prioritize future staffing and deployment choices: “This isn’t about correcting a failure; it’s about planning responsibly for the future.” The department handled 84,791 calls from Dec. 1, 2024, to Dec. 1, 2025, the vast majority EMS. Recommendations include 4-person staffing on every suppression unit, a fully staffed fireboat, and ensuring a special service (ladder or rescue) is crewed consistently. FireRescue1
The county has grown the budgeted force from 853 (FY2019) to 927 today, but the report and union say additional positions—potentially ~150—are needed to hit targets and keep apparatus in service. County Executive Steuart Pittman will release a proposed FY2027 budget in the spring; the fire chief is slated to brief the administration in early March. FireRescue1
Why it matters: As modern synthetic-fueled fires intensify and overlapping EMS runs rise, crew size and unit availability directly affect time-to-task and firefighter safety. The analysis frames near-term hiring and deployment changes as essential to maintaining reliable response across Anne Arundel County. FireRescue1
St. Paul, Minn. — Newly sworn Firefighter Timothy “Tim” Bertz, 52, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, died days after graduating from the St. Paul Fire Department academy and before his first shift. FireRescue1
Timeline: Bertz graduated Wednesday at the Minnesota History Center; he suffered a medical event at home Saturday and later died at the hospital. FireRescue1
Service & life: Began in the fire service in 2017 (Harris Fire, later Lino Lakes duty crew); remembered by SPFD leaders for discipline and leadership. Survived by his wife, Andrea. FireRescue1
Memorial: A public service is planned at Maranatha Church in Forest Lake. Details to follow from SPFD. FireRescue1
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The St. Paul Fire Department is mourning Firefighter Timothy “Tim” Bertz, who died suddenlyjust days after completing the department’s eight-week academy and before he could start his first tour, officials said. Bertz, 52, experienced a serious medical event at home on Saturday and later died at the hospital. FireRescue1
Firefighter Timothy Bert.
Bertz and 20 classmates graduated Wednesday in a ceremony at the Minnesota History Center. Though newly sworn, the department noted he was no stranger to service: a U.S. Navy SEAL veteran, Bertz entered the fire service in 2017 as a paid-on-call firefighter in Harris (Chisago County) and later served on the Lino Lakes duty crew. FireRescue1
“He excelled in the academy because of his discipline and the way he led by example,” Fire Chief Butch Inks said, calling the loss devastating to classmates and instructors who had trained alongside him. Deputy Chief Jamie Smithadded that while Bertz’s time at SPFD was brief, his character and commitment made an immediate impact. FireRescue1
SPFD said memorial arrangements include a public service at Maranatha Church in Forest Lake; the department will share additional details as they are finalized. Bertz is survived by his wife, Andrea, along with family and friends across Minnesota’s fire service community. FireRescue1
Richlands, Va. —Firefighter/EMT Linzie “Scottie” Collins died hours after completing an on-duty shift during which he responded to two calls, officials said. FireRescue1
Timeline: Worked 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Nov. 15; found in medical distress at ~1:15 a.m., Nov. 16; pronounced at 3:24 a.m. after transport. FireRescue1
Service & support: Remembered for three decades of fire/EMS service to Richlands; a GoFundMe was established for his family. FireRescue1
RICHLANDS, Va. — The Richlands fire and EMS community is mourning Linzie Scott “Scottie” Collins, a veteran firefighter/EMT who died just hours after finishing an on-duty tour, according to reports compiled from USFA and local media. Officials said Collins worked a 10 a.m.–6 p.m. shift on Nov. 15, 2025, answering two calls. Shortly after 1:15 a.m. on Nov. 16, he suffered a medical emergency at home; family initiated CPR, and he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced at 3:24 a.m.FireRescue1
Linzie Scott Collins.
Known across Tazewell County as “Scottie,” Collins devoted more than three decades to serving neighbors through fire and EMS responses. Colleagues and residents remembered his steady professionalism and the mentoring he provided to newer members. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support his family. FireRescue1
Line-of-duty status: The United States Fire Administration has listed Collins’ death following his on-duty shift and subsequent medical emergency; local officials will coordinate with state and federal partners on formal determinations and benefits. Funeral and procession details will be released by the department when available. FireRescue1
Anniston, Ala. — Firefighters arrived within 3 minutes of dispatch and rescued two people trapped inside a burning home on Wilmer Avenue. FireRescue1
Patient status: One person was transported for smoke inhalation; the second was treated on scene. FireRescue1
Operations: Crews brought the fire under control and cleared after ensuring scene safety. Cause under investigation.FireRescue1
Quote: “Today’s response reflects the training, readiness and dedication of our firefighters,” said Chief Johnnie Phelps. FireRescue1
ANNISTON, Ala. — Anniston firefighters rescued two occupants from a burning residence Monday morning after arriving within minutes of the 10:08 a.m. dispatch to Wilmer Avenue, city officials said. Crews located both victims inside, removed them to safety and quickly contained the fire. One person was transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation; the second was evaluated on scene and not injured. FireRescue1
In a statement, Fire Chief Johnnie Phelps praised the companies’ performance, citing training and readiness that enabled immediate rescue operations upon arrival. Investigators are working to determine the origin and cause of the blaze. FireRescue1
Bangor Township, Mich. — The Antique Toy & Firehouse Museum has acquired a rare FDNY Super Tender, reuniting it with the museum’s FDNY Super Pumper after a five-day cross-country trek from California. FireRescue1
Provenance: The Super Tender was deaccessioned by FDNY in 1989 and purchased by Hewy Wick, later owned by Ruth Wick; it was restored and often displayed at 9/11 memorial events. FireRescue1
System specs: The 1964 Super Pumper System—built for NYC industrial-scale incidents—was rated at 8,800 gpm; the Tender carried LDH, a 10,000-gpm monitor, and support equipment. FireRescue1
How it happened: A community fundraising drive plus a $100,000 challenge grant from Stewart & Kathryn McMillan (TFT) funded the acquisition and transport. FireRescue1
BANGOR TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A storied piece of New York fireground history is back beside its legendary partner. After museum volunteers secured the vehicle in California on Dec. 10 and coordinated a five-day haul, the FDNY Super Tender arrived in Michigan on Dec. 15, joining the FDNY Super Pumper already on display at the Antique Toy & Firehouse Museum—one of the largest fire collections in the country. “Now the work begins,” said museum vice-chair Mike Snyder, noting restoration and exhibit prep ahead. FireRescue1
The former FDNY Super Tender.
Commissioned in 1964, the Super Pumper System was FDNY’s answer to massive water-supply demands at refineries, piers and heavy industry—moving up to 8,800 gallons per minute. The Super Tender served as the logistics and firepower backbone, bringing large-diameter hose, a 10,000-gpm water monitor, and additional equipment to sustain long-duration operations. Together, the pair became synonymous with FDNY’s high-capacity tactics for extraordinary incidents. FireRescue1
The Tender’s modern journey traces to its 1989 deaccession, when Hewy Wick purchased and restored the unit, showing it for decades at community events—especially ceremonies commemorating 9/11. Following Ruth Wick’s stewardship, the museum mobilized a donor effort to bring the apparatus east. The campaign was capped by a $100,000 challenge grant from Stewart and Kathryn McMillan; Stewart, the former Task Force Tips CEO, first witnessed the system working a New York fire as a young firefighter in 1971. FireRescue1
With the Super Tender now parked alongside the Super Pumper, museum staff say they’ll create an interpretive exhibit that explains how the system moved water at volumes rarely seen today and influenced large-flow operations across the fire service. FireRescue1
Truckee, Calif. — Firefighters used an aerial ladder as a bridge to rescue nine people cut off by a surging South Yuba River near Donner Summit; no injuries reported. FireRescue1
Tactics: Crews extended the ladder horizontally over fast-moving water so occupants could walk out to the road. Multiple agencies assisted, including CAL FIRE, Olympic Valley Fire, and California State Parks. FireRescue1
Setting: The red, peaked-roof house sits right on the river’s edge and has required rescues in past high-water events dating back decades. FireRescue1
Safety message: Officials urged the public to stay away from swollen rivers and never enter floodwaters as more rain was forecast. FireRescue1
TRUCKEE, Calif. — Truckee firefighters evacuated nine people from a riverside home after heavy rains swelled the South Yuba River and cut off access to the property Sunday, prompting a creative technical rescue with an aerial ladder deployed as a horizontal bridge, officials said. No injuries were reported. FireRescue1
Battalion Chief Ryan Ochoa said crews extended the truck’s ladder across the fast current to reach occupants who were surrounded as water flowed around both sides of the structure. One by one, residents walked over the ladder to the roadway and then left in their own vehicles. The house, which sits on a granite slab at the river’s edge, has seen similar rescues in past high-water years, he noted. FireRescue1
The operation drew support from CAL FIRE, the Olympic Valley Fire Department, and California State Parks. With more rain expected, authorities warned people to keep clear of riverbanks and avoid attempting to drive or wade through floodwaters. FireRescue1
Lowell, Mass. — First responders took 100 local kids (ages 10–14) holiday shopping at Target during the annual Heroes & Helpers event. FireRescue1
How it worked: Each child paired with a cop, firefighter or EMT and received a $100 gift card; Target funded $2,500 in cards. FireRescue1
Who helped:Lowell Police & Fire, Mass. State Police, Pridestar Trinity EMS, and the Middlesex DA’s Officevolunteered. FireRescue1
Extra support:Greater Lowell Community Foundation + PAL of Massachusetts added $7,500; Pridestar Trinity EMS chipped in $500; AT&T supported PAL. FireRescue1
LOWELL, Mass. — Holiday cheer filled a city Target as police officers, firefighters, EMTs and prosecutors paired up with 100 Lowell children for the annual Heroes & Helpers shopping event, organizers said. Each child received a $100 gift card and shopped alongside a first responder, choosing gifts for themselves and loved ones. FireRescue1
The outing drew volunteers from Lowell Police and Fire, Massachusetts State Police, Pridestar Trinity EMS, and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. Superintendent Greg Hudon said the day creates a positive, lasting connectionbetween youth and first responders, particularly for kids from under-resourced neighborhoods selected with help from Lowell Public Schools. FireRescue1
Target underwrote the event with $2,500 in gift cards, and community partners expanded the effort: the Greater Lowell Community Foundation and Police Activities League of Massachusetts (PAL) contributed $7,500; Pridestar Trinity EMS added $500 to cover any overages; and AT&T provided PAL support. Middlesex DA Marian Ryan and her team also joined the shopping crews. FireRescue1
Organizers say Heroes & Helpers offers first responders—who regularly confront trauma on duty—an opportunity to share a joyful, uplifting experience with local families while building trust that lasts beyond the holidays. FireRescue1
